The Washington critic., 1887-05-21
WASHINGTON, MAY 81, 1887.
AN UNwIsE AGITATION.

family" and makes 1t an eytraditable
crime. Under this treaty, should some
'liberty.loving Russian" blow up the
Gar with dynamite and then make his
escape to the United States, our Gov.
ernment would be obliged to surrender
him II he was called for. DIR. McGlynn
thinks that this would be national
disgrace. He holds that the murder of
the Russian Emperor would be such
virtuous and heroic act that the United
States ought 10 be proud of the honor
of harboring the fugitive who did it.
Henry George thinks so, too. AT any
rate we have DR.. McGlynn's authority
for the statement that he (George)
would give absolution every time to
Russian who destroys the Car"
1t seems, moreover, that Colonel
Robert c. 1ngersoll Is of the same
opinion. He sent letter to the Cooper
Institute meeting Thursday night In
which he says;
With every drop of my blood am opposed
TO any treaty with Russia by which the United
States shall be bound to deliver to the agents
of It's Infamous Government men who are
simply charged with political crimes. No
such treaty should be made while Siberia re.
mains the tomb Of the bravost and the best,
These gentlemen are all entitled to
their opinions, because this Is free
country, butthere is such thing as
mans talking too much, even in
country so free as ours. There is GER
talnly great deal too much being said
not only in paliation, but in actual
gloriflcatIon of King killing. 1t is
bad subject to agltate in mixed as
stmblages, where passion predominatcs
over reason and prejudice over princi.
pie, as is so often the case with Ameri.
cin audiences in all our large cities;
aad we are surprised that Colonel
1ngersoll should appear before the
ceuntry in the attitude of an apologist
for the assassination of the rulers of a
government which is one of the friend
liest OF all the European powers to the
United States, and which certainly
seeks no undue advantage over us
through the pending treaty.
There is nothing to be gained by
these exhibitions of buncombc. They
have little or no influence with intelli.
gent and well regulated people, but In
pandering to the soclalistic elements of
our population, to the lawless spirit
which is abroad, to the unreasoning
and irresponsible, whose ideas of
popular liberty have not been formu.
lated and disciplined under wholesome
American influences, these eulogies of
the dynamite bomb and apostrophes
TO regicide, are calculated to breed
mischief.
1t were far better to leave the Rus
sian treaty to be passed upon by the
Senate without all this public agita
tion. We can rest assured that neither
the honor nor the interests of the Re-
public will be betrayed by the dispas.
sionate judgment of that body, while
the noisy demagogues. who hold the
lives of Kings and Emperors so cheap,
forgetting the cheapness at which even
the lives of American Presidents have
been held. may endanger both by their
1OOllsH lnulscIcllOn.
IT MAKES no difference where the
suggestion came from, whether from
the President, the War Department or
the Womans Christian Temperance
Union, the decision of the National
Drill Committee relative to the sale of
liquors on the grounds is wise one.
There are many reasons, too obvious to
dwell on, why there should be no bar.
room business done In the immediate
vicinity Of the encampment and under
the noses of visitors, Including thou.
sands of women and children, and no
good citizen will seriously object to
the Introduction. 1t will put nobody to
any heartrending Inconvenience; nor
will 1t make any material difference in
the consumption of liquors during the
week. The idea is to keep the trade at
proper distance and within its proper
limits.
MANY NERVOUS Department clerks
and applicants for clerical positions are
under the impression that the civil
service rules and new amendments are
in themselves sufficiently bewlldering;
but when an additional daily torture is
added by way of alleged interviews
with Commissioner Oberly, followed
ly his statement explaining away the
interviews, supplemented with further
interpretations as to what the new rules
really do mean, makes the whole sub.
joct as clear as mud, There should be
new Commissioner appointed to ex
plain the present Commissioner ex.
planation.
REPoRTs from Chicago relative to
the plots of the International Work
mems Protective Association probably
have some foundation In the incendiary
uteranccs of that body, but as likely
10 become accomplished facts, should
be taken at heavy discount. There
isplenty of wild talk, but we doubt If
any general uprising is contemplated.
Still, being thus forewarnci against q
possible contingency, the city can have
no excuse for not being forearmed.
WAsHINGToN has one charming re
sort, and will soon have others, ON the
Potomac, which affords an opportunity
for our citizens TO get relief from bust
ness cares and mental worries and re-
turn home in few hours decidedly
refreshed. We refer to Marshall Hal
sixteen miles down the river-which
is under the management OF Colonel
Joseph G. McKibben, whose plank